Katrin has over six years of experience in human rights and gender advocacy in the Republic of Armenia. Since 2019, she has been actively engaged in activism as the Head of Human Rights at the National Trans Coalition – a local community-based organisation.

Through continuous learning and empowerment, Katrin has contributed to the development of several reports, manuals, and guidelines focused on human rights protection, advocacy, and leadership. Her work has played a key role in strengthening Armenia’s human rights movement and promoting equality for vulnerable communities.

Katrin has also been deeply involved in documenting and managing cases of human rights violations, stigma, discrimination, and violence against vulnerable populations. Her efforts focus on ensuring access to rights-based, patient-centered services and building the capacity of affected individuals to claim their rights – contributing to the improvement of national policies and practices.

In addition to her advocacy work, Katrin has significant experience as a trainer and coach. She has designed and delivered numerous training programmes for community members on topics such as identifying stigma and discrimination, documenting human rights violations, and advocating for equality and inclusion.

“As a Fellow of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Fellowship Programme, I envision strong leadership led by and for marginalized groups. Their participation and innovative responses are essential for achieving comprehensive gender mainstreaming based on an ‘involve all – treat all’ approach. By facilitating communication, advocacy campaigns, and policy dialogue, we aim to increase the participation of refugees and internally displaced persons from double-marginalized communities in decision-making processes. Through information sharing and legal support, we will strengthen access to social justice and build a platform for cooperation and solidarity among stakeholders.”– Katrin HAKOBYAN